Telescopically-collapsible box or can



July 22, 1930. H. HERMAN! TELESCOPICALLY COLLAPSIBLE BOX 08 CAN Filed Aug. 8, 1929 INVENTOR Hf/VRY HERMAN! ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE HENRY HERMANI, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN TO- BACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY 'IELESCOPICALLY-COLLAPSIBIQE BOX OR CAN Application-filed August 8, 1929. Serial No. 384,313.

This invention is an improvement in a telescopically collapsible box or can, and more particularly in a box or can designed for containing smoking tobacco for retailing.

In the usual construction, a box of this type is relatively deep as compared with width and thickness, and the tobacco is as a rule in a state of some compression. Because of this, it is usual to loosen the contents with the finger, and when the contents are approximately half exhausted, it is very diflicult to reach the part of the tobacco remaining in the can, to loosen and dislodge it.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a. box or can composed of sections so connected and arranged that as the contents of the box are removed, the sections may be collapsed to lessen the length of the box, thereby to facilitate access to the remaining contents.

Another object is the provision of a box wherein sections may be quickly assembled, merely by pushing them together, and wherein the sections may be easily separated from each other without deformation.

Another object is the provision of a box wherein the connection between the sections is such that they will be positively held in extended position but releasably, and will be held in ally.

Another object is the provision of a connection such that the natural resilience of the sections is utilized in the release and engage ment of the locking means.

Another object is the provision of a box departing from the usual appearance as slightly as possible, and wherein the difi'erence will be substantially hidden by the label.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understoo that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

partial extended position friction- In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improved box or can with the cover'opcn, and with the parts fully extended.

I Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the box collapsed.

In the present embodiment of the invention the improved box, which is of sheet metal or the like, is composed of an upper and lower section, telescopically connected, to slide one within the other. The box is designed to fit the pocket, and is oblong in horizontal cross-section, as shown.

The lower section 1 has connected therewith a bottom 2, in any suitable manner, and the upper section 3, which is mounted'to telescope within the lower section, has a flanged cover 4, hinged'to the section as at 5. The section 3 has an annular bead 6.at the cover end against which the cover abuts when closed.

The lower end of'the upper section has a slidable fit in the upper end of the lower section, and may be collapsed into the lower section as far as the bead 6, and the sections are substantially the same depth, or of a depth such that the upper sectionmay be gollgpsed into the lower section as far as the ea Interengaging mechanism is provided for holding the box sections fully extended. This mechanism is in the form sides of the sections, and it will be noticed,

referring to Figs. 1 and 3, that the said ribs are wholly within the plane surface of the said sides. That is, the ribs stop well'short of the commencement of the curvature of the short sides. With. this arrangement, the natural resiliency of the long sides is utilized to fit) of relativcly'long I rlbs 7 on the lower section, and similar ribs enable engagementand disengagement of the cooperating pairs of ribs.

With boxes of this type, the tobacco is first wrapped in suitable material, as for instance, waterproof paper, to form a package 9, of

a size and shape to fit within the extended box. The wrapped package is then inserted into the extended box, and both these operations are done by machinery. With the sectional box forming the subject matter of the present application, the procedure is precisely the same, the tobacco being wrapped and inserted into the box by the machinery now in use.

The sections are arranged in the position of F ig. 1, that is, fully extended, with the ribs 7 and 8 interengaged, and it will be evident that the interengagement of the said ribs furnishes a guide for extending the sections, to indicate when the sections are fully extended. The interengagement of the ribs provides sufficient resistance to prevent collapse of the sections during the insertion of the package, while at the same time it does not present any great amount of resistance to collapsing the sections manually when desired.

Asthe tobacco is used, the sections may be gradually collapsed, to retain the level of the tobacco at the top of the box, or the box may be permitted to remain fully extended, until the finger can no longer conveniently reach the tobacco, that is, until the contents are approximately half removed. The sections are then collapsed by pressing the ends together. This pressure disengages the ribs, and the upper section moves into the lower section, until the bead 6 is near the top'of the lower section. 7

Should there be any sticking of the ribs, that is, any reluctance to disengage one from the other,ldisengagement may be assisted by inward pressure on the long sides of the upper section. Preferably the free edge of the top of the lower section is beveled slightly inward, as shown at 10, to closely engage the upper section. v

What is claimed as new is :1-- 1 1. A telescopically collapsible box of oblon cross-section, including a lower section having a bottom, and an upper separable section having a cover, the lower end of the upper section having a. sliding fit in the upper end of the lower section and means for releasably holdin the sections-fully extended, said means inc uding relatively long interengaging ribs on the lapping ends of the sections, said ribs being on opposite sides of the wider walls of the box, and extending substantially parallel with the lapping edges,

terminating short of the narrower walls.

' 2. A telescopically collapsible box of oblong cross section havin plane relatively wide side walls, and curve relatively narrow end walls, said box including a lower section with the lapping edges and stopping short of the curved end walls.

3. A telescopically collapsible box of oblong cross section having plane relatively wide side walls, and curved relatively narrow end walls, said box including a lower section having a bottom, and an upper separable section having a cover, the lower end of the upper section having a sliding fit in the upper end of the lower section, and means for releasably holding the sections fully extended, said means including relatively long interengaging ribs on the lapping ends of the sections,

said ribs being on the wide sides of the box and extending substantially parallel with the lapping edges and stopping short of the curved end walls, the upper end of the lower section being contracted to closely fit about the upper section.

Signed at Baltimore, State of Maryland, this 6th day of August, A. D. 1929.

HENRY HERMANI. 

